Background

A new project is being developed by UNDP within Procurement notice of EuropeAid in the context of the ENPI East Regional Programme (Strategy Paper 2007-2013), which identifies water management as one of its priorities.

This project is considered as Component B of the larger “Protection of freshwater and marine environments in the wider Black Sea region” programme (CRIS N° ENPI/2009/021-924). Component A of this initiative is represented by the separate “Environmental protection of International River Basins” project. The two components will be implemented in parallel. Given that most of the trans-boundary rivers of the region discharge into the Black Sea, component A indirectly targets component B. Therefore close coordination between the two components is foreseen.

The present project will contribute to improving regional cooperation and agreements for the protection of the Black Sea, in particular the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (the Bucharest Convention). The project will strengthen national capacities of the respective national authorities for biological and chemical monitoring of water quality in the Black Sea, help develop protected areas and improve sustainable development of coastal zones.

Relevant results and experiences of previous and ongoing projects will be duly taken into account. Activities will be carried out in Georgia, Russian Federation, and Ukraine. If thematically justified, other countries of the wider Black Sea region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Belarus) could be involved in the project activities.

The project should contribute to the sustainable development of the Black Sea basin by preventing and reducing the input into the sea of pollutants through river or direct discharges and by promoting the sustainable management and/or protection of natural resources, including water resources and biodiversity.

The project will focus on the alignment of partner countries' policies and strategies. Furthermore, activities relating to the specific objective 1 (Monitoring) will take into account convergence with EU water related legislation, in particular the Water Framework Directive (EUWFD) and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (EU MSFD). Activities relating to specific objectives 2 and 3 (Protected Areas and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)) will seek to correlate to specific initiatives from the Black Sea Commission (BSC) annual work plans, and support them through pilot projects and other measures.

It is required that significant effort will be put into training and capacity building and that  local training institutions are involved. In order to promote ownership, engagement of local experts and organisations is encouraged.

The project will consist of three major components with the following activities:

Component 1. Improvement of availability and quality of data on the chemical and biological status of the Black Sea

• Review of the national monitoring systems and tools for assessing data obtained from monitoring activities
• Support to implementation of countries obligations under the Bucharest and other related Conventions and Agreements
• Development of cost-effective and harmonised biological and chemical monitoring programmes in accordance with reporting obligations under multilateral environmental agreements, the WFD and the MSFD
• An assessment of needs regarding laboratory infrastructure, equipment, and training
• Elaboration and implementation of the comprehensive training programme on monitoring methods and quality assurance aiming at adhering to ISO 17025 standard
• Organisation of Joint Black Sea Surveys
• Development of the web-based Black Sea Water Quality Database
  

Component 2: Increase number and size of protected areas in the Black Sea as well as increase their degree of protection

•  Review of the existing protected areas in the Black Sea with a special focus on possible deficiencies regarding law enforcement and implementation of management plans
• Development of a work programme aimed at identifying, designating, and improving effective management of protected areas (coastal and/or marine)
• Establishment of bilateral protected areas which currently do not exist
• Activities to raise awareness 
  

Component 3: Improvements in sustainable use of coastal zones

• A review of the existing laws and management plans regarding coastal zone management
• Development of ICZM training programme
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management  pilot projects
• Regional events on ICZM issues and awareness raising

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be a key expert in the implementation of the project, dealing primarily with  the project activities related to the data availability and quality of data on chemical and biological status of the Black Sea and on compliance with focus on the Bucharest Convention. Under the supervision of the International Waters Regional Technical Advisor and the Project Team Leader the Consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

• Preparation of an overview over the state of art in the field of marine environment monitoring at both national and regional level to avoid duplicating existing initiatives and compose a review that should include the progress in water quality classifications, types of monitoring, parameters measured, monitoring network, legal changes etc, but with focus on identifying gaps in the parameters/ methodologies/frequencies (e.g. how and whether the right parameters are measured at the right sites and at the required frequencies to detect trends in the data)
• Preparation of Cost-effective and harmonised biological and chemical monitoring programmes of the Black Sea coastal zone with a view to its implementation in the longer time frame reflecting actual capacities of the partner countries and legal requirements of their respective Water Laws
• Preparation of a comprehensive training programme on monitoring methods and quality assurance aiming at adhering to ISO 17025 standard and organization of trainings and workshops
• Planning and implementation of the Joint Black Sea Survey, with key role in data collection (results of analyses) from involved laboratories and preparation of relevant scientific report.
• Development of the web-based Black Sea Quality Database, in terms of proposing the parameters and overall structure.
• Overview of gaps in compliance monitoring and indicator-based reporting
• Carry out various activities arising during the project implementation

The assignment will require travel in the region, upon request by UNDP (to be covered separately). The consultant is expected to work closely with UNDP BRC and project partners involved in the project implementation.

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:

• Report review of the national monitoring systems and tools for data management/assessment in the countries (within inception phase)
• Report on compliance monitoring, set of indicators
• Integrated Program for the harmonized monitoring for the Black Sea
• Report on the needs assessment regarding the infrastructure, laboratory equipment and staff training of key institutions that are in charge of monitoring
• Program on monitoring methods and QA/QC (Quality Assurance / Quality Control) and “train the trainer” programme, evaluation of the participating laboratories performance in inter-calibrations
• A set of Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and Quality Control/Assurance (QA/QC) Manuals
• Report on Joint Black Sea Survey
• Report on the Black Sea State of the Environment
• Concept paper for the Black Sea Quality Database
• Inputs into all technical reports to be prepared Specific work-packages will be agreed as a result of annual work planning.

Deliverables, timeframe for deliveries and lump sum remuneration (based on the estimated number of working days) will be agreed in writing prior to commencement of the work. Travel costs (such as DSA and tickets, as applicable and upon prior explicit approval by the supervisor) will be paid separately in accordance to UNDP rules and regulations. Output payment will be released upon satisfactory completion and delivery of results.

Competencies

• Excellent communication and management skills and demonstrable capacity to work with government institutions.
• Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback
• Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations
• Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities
  

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications/Education:

• University master degree (PhD or equivalent) in chemistry, (hydro-)biology, environmental/natural sciences or environmental engineering (or equivalent);

Experience:

• Minimum 15 years overall experience relevant to the assignment;
• Minimum 7 years of relevant experience in the beneficiary countries;
• Working experience in international projects related to integrated water management, preferably in water quality, monitoring programmes, data collection and evaluation;
• General experience demonstrating an understanding of transposition, implementation and/or enforcement of the EU environmental acquis, particularly the Water Framework Directive, and of capacity building challenges faced by water authorities in the beneficiary countries or EU Member States. 
• Proven experience in working on marine environment monitoring and assessment issues. Hands-on laboratory experience is an important asset;
• At least 10 years of demonstrable experience and a proven track record in technical, scientific or socio-economic fields required for the implementation of the Water Framework Directive and other EU Directives related to River Basin management (including coastal and marine basins);
• Experience in having a management position as a team/ deputy team-leader or equivalent, in a development project of similar size and complexity;
• Experience in working on development projects in the beneficiary countries.

Language:

• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills in English
• Knowledge of Russian language is a must
  

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal.
The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
b) Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

• Criteria A – academic qualification / education  – max points: 10
• Criteria B – general professional experience in international projects on integrated water management, water quality and monitoring, data collection and EU environmental Acquis  - Water Framework Directive (WFD)  - max points: 15
• Criteria C – specific professional experience in management position of a similar project – max points: 10
• Criteria D – specific professional experience in technical, scientific or socio-economic fields related to EUWFD implementation and River Basing Management planning (including coastal and marine basins) – max points: 15
• Criteria E – specific professional experience in working on marine environment monitoring and assessment issues, hands-on laboratory experience – max points: 10
• Criteria F – language, writing and communication skills max points: 10

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points

Application procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work (if applicable). Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
• Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees
  (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc ); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
• Financial Proposal* - specifying a daily fee. Travel costs will be paid separately according to the UN rules and regulations.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials

*Please note that the financial proposal is related to daily fee and shall take into account various expenses incurred by the consultant/contractor during the contract period (e.g. fee, health insurance, vaccination and any other relevant expenses related to the performance of services...). Travel costs are not part of the daily fee and will be paid separately according to the UN rules and regulations.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org.

Individual Consultants serve in their independent, individual capacity and not as representatives of UNDP. They are neither “staff members” nor “officials” under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. Individual Consultants are not given any form of representational, supervisory approving or signing authority for committing UNDP into any legal and/or financial obligations  

General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://europeandcis.undp.org/home/jobs

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.

Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.